Waste and overflow fitting



P. F. DON AHUE WASTE AND OVERFLOW FITTING June29, 1948. 2,444,340

Cittornegs Patented June 29, 1948 WASTE AND OVERFLOW FITTING Patrick F.Donahue, Waterbury,

Conn., assignor to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn, acorporation of Connecticut Application August 31, 1944, Serial No.552,049

14 Claims. (01. 4-191) The present invention relates to improvements inwaste and overflow fittings for bath tubs and the like, and has for ano-bject'to eliminate the unsightly drain hole plates that have beencustomarily used over overflow fittings and substitute in place thereofan imperforate plate or cover shell combined with a concealed plateholder to the end that no openings appear externally in the plate to marthe appearance of the overflow fitting; the imperforate plate and itsholder, which may be a casting or cast body, being so constructed andarranged relatively to one another as to provide overflow dischargeopenings rearwardly of the plate or rearwardly of a flange of the plate.4

Another object of the invention is to provide an overflow fittingwithout the use of visible screws or other fastening means which isintended to confuse and confound the ordinary layman as to theconstruction and method of assembly and disassembly of the fitting unitto act as a deterrent to discourage the removal and stealing of drainplugs and chains and other partsof the fittings as is often done inhotels.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fitting fordrains, overflows or the like in which the lack of external visibilityof screws or fastenings and the imperforate character of the finishplate will impart an ornamentation and a finish that could not beobtained with slotted or perforated plates held in place by obviousscrews or other fastenings.

The invention has for its further object to secure the above advantagesby the use of a simple, economically manufactured construction capableof cooperating with usual drain and overflow flttings and involving aunitary construction which lends itself to ready installation andremoval by the authorized and instructed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an overflow unitso constructed and arranged as to lend itself to ready adaptation to thevarious angular positions that the wall of a bath tub may assumerelative to the vertical axis of the overflow pipe.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be'morefully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed outin the claims appended hereto.

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through a portion of a bath tub anddrain and overflow fittings and illustrated in edge elevationandconstructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the improved 2 fitting taken on anenlarged scale and with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3--3' of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view or plate holder, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through a portion ofthe bath tub wall, overflow pipe and the parts of the invention shown indisassembled relation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings l0 designates generally abath tub having a drain I I and an overflow I2. A conventional form ofdrain plug is shown as closing the drain II and as coupled to acustomary captive chain I 4.

As shown to best advantage in Figure 6 the bath tub I0 is formed with anoverflow opening IS with which the upper end of the overflow pipe 12communicates. The upper curved or elbowed end of the overflow pipe l2passes through registering openings I 6 and I! in a flanged retainer rinI8 and gasket l9 respectively, The gasket I9 is preferably of somecompressible material and may be formed with a bevel seat 20 on itsforward edge communicating with its central opening ll, such bevel edgeconforming to, and adapted to receive thereagainst the outwardlyflangedend 2! of the overflow pipe I 2. There need be no bevel 20 in view ofthe fact that the rubber gasket will readily conform to any surfaceagainst which it is impressed.

The outer edge of the gasket I9 is formed in two sections, a rearcylindrical section 22 designed and adapted to be confined by the flange23 struck forwardly from the edge of the disc retainer ring l8; and aforward frusto-conical section 24 of a size and diameter to fit againstthe rear edge of the overflowopening l5 of the bath tub H). The flange23 tends to avoid radial spreading of the gasket l9 except at itsforward unconfined frusto-conica1 section where it may expand againstthe surrounding contacting portions of the wall of the bath tub openingl5 with the object of making a tight leak-nroof joint.

The association of the retainer ring is and gasket I9 is to some extentfound in the Pasman Patent 1,618,777 except that that prior patent lacksthe bevel seat 20, the rear cylindrical section 22 and the cooperativefeatures with the overflow pipe part 2| and the flanged retainer ring I8that these parts imply. Cooperating with the retainer ring l8 and gasketl9 and located at the front side of the bath tub wall In is a face or ofthe cast body finish unit comprising the face plate 25 and ti, faceplate holder 26. I

he face plate holder may be a casting or a cast body. For convenience itmay assume generally the form of a disc having a central opening 2?about a rear ilange 28 which subserves two functions incident to thefact that both its internal and external walls are "inclined; In factthe flange 28 may taper rearwardly, that is toward the overflow pipe,its outer tapering wall fitting within the the overflow pipe end firmlywithin its seat 20 in the gasket 89, as

shown in Figure 3; and the inner tapering wall; of the flange 28 actingto direct the over-flow;

water from the tub into the overflow pipe '12, not through the gasket l9or retainer ring directly from the flange 28 into the pipe 82. The

mating relationship between the external wall of the frusto-conicalflange 28 and the parts 2| and 25! also promotes theleak-proof characterof the fitting.

The internal face of the holder or disc 26 is circularly shouldered asat 29 near its outer edge and is dimensioned so as to have a relativelyloose fit within the opening l and serves to make it easier for theplumber to line up the casting 25 with the opening E5 on the tub duringthe assembly operation.

A cross bar 30 extends diametrically or otherwise across "the centralopening of the holder. casting at to carry a threaded socket 3 l. Ascrew or threaded bolt carried by the face plate 2'5'is received" intothe threaded socket 31. The head 33 of the screw'32 is affixednon-rotatably in the face plate 25 and the external visible portion ofsuch head which is :revealed on the outside of the faceplate 25 ispreferably .unslottedand may be given anornamental character that wouldlead one away from any conclusion that the same is the fastening by'whichthe faceplate is secured in place.

Or'the head 33 may be swivelly or 'rotatably mounted through the 'fa'ceplate 25 in which event the external Visible portion of the head 33- maybe provided "with across out or slot to receive a screw driver or othertool by whichthe same may be threaded into and out of the socket 3!without rotation of the plate 25. Where the plate 25 and screw??? areailiXed against relativerotation, the screw iizwi-ll be threaded intoand out of the socket e: only *bytlie rotation of the face plate 25.

As shown in Figurefiithedisc it-1s broken away or has a removedportion-in order to expose the slots 3% at their'en'ds to slideover-theshanks orthe attaching screws 35 and beneath the heads 53% thereof, thescrew-heads 35 being wider than the slots 36. As shown in Figure 5, thewalls o'ithe slots 3 are rounded on to facilitate guiding the holder 26over the screws 35 upon assembly.-

As shown in Figure 4 the screws 35 are threadedinto threadedcollars-3101c the flanged retainer ring l8 and such screws pass throughthe gasket it? and retainer ring l8.

Lugs sis project 'forwardlyiromthe disc holder at near the peripheraledge thereof and in widely spaced angular or circumferential relation.-At the broken away or removed portion of the disc 25 a radial'arm 39carries a bifurcated lug the legs of which are separated bythe slot a l.

The bifurcated lug tt'a'lso projects forwardly and may be concentricwiththe lugs 38.

The lugs 38 and lli receive thereagainst the rear surface of the-faceplat-e25 in' the assembled posioutwardly-flanged end H or 12 and actingto .holdsuchpipe" 13 but from the front face of the dis-c efiect'pronidebetween these parts an annular free flow of the Such channelcompartment or channel for the overflow water from the tub it.

or-compartment communicates with the interior of the'tublfl by the wideopenings between the lugs circumferential slits or 38, All and at thecut away or removed portion of the holder disc fi de'si-red, theexterior surface of the rear holder flange 28 is preferably formed as apart of a spherical surface, over which-surface the flanged end zl ofthe overflow pipe 12 is capable of universal-ladjustmenhwithin limits,so that the plate holder 26 will readily adapt itself to the variousangular fposition's' that the upright walls it of bath: tubs :may bedisposed without efiecting the vertical, stand of pipe 12.

Theiparts t l-may be drifted-apertures interiorly thncadedufor:receiving the assembly screws 3E, thel ieads of which are engagedagainst the front f ace ofgthekcast :body 25. The end ball: of thedrain: plug; chain M's-is engaged inside the per fonated; lug' e0'rbellere the -=f.ace plate I 25 is put in place andthsl-ink ofthe chainto the .next ball is accommodated in the slot 4!. The i ace platezdithuslin an unrevealingmanner locksthe chain l-tiagainst removal.EB-he flange i-2 of the face plate also fits hetween adiacent balls ofthe chain and;-rtends- :to bind the chain between the lace plate :25 andits holder 25.

In: use, the overflow 'is caused to flow around theiflanged edged-2 ofthe face plate 25 and then through :the open center 21 For the cast body2%, and thence directly into the overflow pipe 12.

-To -assemble the :-=deyice;- the plumber initially assembles the screws35 through-the gasket and 11 1 1111 ,dri fted' threaded openings '31 ofthe retainer; ring" it but without tightening these screws-35 mlanyextent. The-holder 2G is then assembled-twine screws by bringing themouths o;-the =-s1ots-34under the screw heads at and sliding the platee'dgewise until arriving at substantially' theposition shown in Figure'2 where such holder 26ers centrally oriented with respect tmthebat-htubopening -l5,-the-upper end of the OVGIfiOW'rPiPB 1 2 and-the otherassociated parts. ThB SCIBWS 35=can then-be tightened so that the headsat clamp firmly zagainst theoutside surface of the disc holder 22.6..The screws'35 maybe turnedsufficiently to'cause the flange 28 to bindtightly on thecend 2! of the pipe and to draw the retainer-ring l8tightly .up against the gasket l9 squeezing the gasket against both .the,pipe end 21 and the rearv edge wall of. the bath tub opening I5. 'Suchscrew pressure will also draw the disc holder tightly against theforward edge of the bathtub upright wall.

"Wheninitially sliding the disc holder 26 edgewi'secnto the screws"35,jthe screws will retain the holder disc 26 'in place freeing onehand of thep'l'uniber to pickup a tool such as a screw driver wherewithto tighten the assembly screws 35. After the holder 'disc 26 is fastenedin position theiaceplate-ifi is assembledto the disc z li'by' fittingthe screw-32 to the socket ti and rotating the face plate suitably tocause threaded engagement between these parts; such engagement resultingin the feeding of the screw axially into the socket 3| and theconcomitant progressive movement of the face plate'bodily in an axialdirection toward the holder 26 until in the home position face plateflange 42 overlaps disc lugs 38, 40 and slot 4|.

When installed the unit exposes no visible screws but all that one seesis the entirely plain round ornamental flat plate :25 with a centralspherical nub 33 which happens to be the head of the integral screw, butsubstantially concealing the fact that there is a screw associatedwiththe plate. l

The invention in one phase resides in the unit provided by theassociation of the face plate 25 and the holder member 26, and in'thisaspect it is immaterial what type of gasket or retainer ring or othermember that may be'used in rear. of the tub to connect with the overflowpipe [2.

In a more specific aspect, the invention relates to the cooperation ofthe flange 28 of the holder member 26 with the end 2| of the pipe l2 andwith the seat 20 of the gasket l9.

In still another aspect, the invention consists of that modification ofthe retainer ring I8 by which it is provided with the drifted threadedopenings 31 in cooperation with the assembly screws 35 whereby thesescrews act in a treble capacity to first put the gasket 29 undercompression against the edge of the bath tub wall opening l5, secondlyto bind in a tight fit the disc holder rear wall that surrounds shoulder29 against the bath tub wall, and thirdly to effect a squeezing togetherof the gasket l9 and holder plate 26 such as will bind the outwardlyflanged end 21 of the overflow pipe I 2 between these parts.

The presence of the flange 42 enhances the mystery of the constructionand assembly of the fitting in that prying eyes or probing instrumentsare excluded thereby from gaining any access edgewise between themembers 25 and 26, it being preferable that the depth of the flange 42be a sufficient comparably to that of the lugs 38, 4!), toenable theflange 42 to extend over at least to the front surface of the holdermember 26. The presence of the flange 42 also requires the water to flowforwardly or away from the wall ill in order to get into the dischargeopening 21.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in thedetails of construction and design of the above specifically de-'scribed embodiment of this invention without departing from the spiritthereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by thescope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an overflow fitting, an imperforate face plate having a discportion, and a perforated holder therefor having a disc portion withmeans to retain the disc portion of the face plate in spaced relation tothe disc portion of the holder.

2. In an overflow and drain fitting for a perforated wall, a plateholder member, and an imperforate face plate member, means to hold thetwo members together, a drain plug captive element, and means betweensaid plate and holder for fastening an end portion of said element.

3. In an overflow and drain fitting according to claim 2, said meanscomprising a bifurcated lug on the plate holder member to engage thefree end of the element, and a flange on the plate to overlap the lug.

4. In an overflow pipe fittingy'a backing member havingan internal seatto receive an end portion of a pipe, and a front couple comprising animperforate face pla't'eyand -a holder member therefor havinga-rearwardly directed flange to internally-engage the pipe end andsurrounding a discharge opening,- and-means on theholder to hold"the'face'plateand holder" together'in such and. closing against therear edge of the aperture,

a plate holder 'ada'pted 'to fit against the front edgeof theapertureand having a discharge opening and a flange about theopeningadapted to engagethe internal wall of the end ofthe pipe endreposing onsaidseat, and means to draw the holder and backingmember'toward one an-' other.

7. For use with an apertures] bath tub wall and an overflow pipe, agasket adapted to fit about the pipe end and against the rear edge ofthe aperture and having a substantially cylindrical outer edge sectionand an inclined wall section to engage the rear edge of the aperture, aflanged retainer ring adapted to be placed against said gasket with theflange enveloping the cylindrical section, and a front fitting connectedto said retainer ring and lying in front of the aperture.

8. For use with an apertured bath tub wall and an overflow pipe with anoutwardly-flanged end, a gasket adapted to fit about the pipe and havinga bevel seat to receive said flanged end and also having afrusto-conical outer edge portion to engage the rear edge of theaperture, a retainer ring adapted to lie in rear of the gasket, and afront fitting connected to the ring and adapted to lie in front of theaperture.

9. The device of claim 8 characterized by drifted threaded collars inthe ring engaged by assembly screws extending through the front fitting.

10. In an overflow fitting for a perforated wall, an imperforate faceplace having a flange, and a perforated holder for the face plate havingmeans to space the face plate from said holder and the flange from thewall.

11. For use with a perforated bathtub wall and an overflow pipe back ofsaid wall, a face plate and holder both in front of said wall, said faceplate being imperforate and having an imperforate flange extendingtoward said wall, said holder having an opening communicating with theoverflow pipe through the wall perforation and also havingcircumferentially spaced lugs projecting toward the face plate withinsaid flange for spacing the face plate and holder, said lugs of a sizeto also space the flange from the 7 place; :the iae.eplateeconoealinszthesheads of the screws;

13. ,.FQ1'J-2'S115Q with laneapplztuned bathtub wv all; and aaofiangedsoverflewapim zseetiun. immamemehersassoeiatedsmetherlitwoiinztmntmt and-two in-o'rear of-Jshebathtub mallendeiormineeflgrfront andaereenneqplewsaidmear coupleweommfisingea asket"fitted-ato :theaoutsidez oi; the .13336 1880111011? and-wits lfiangeamha banking iplatmin manor-the gasket,saidzfironticoupletcomprisingsaiace plate' and a face plate holder, saidholder having a rean-v ward :jproieetioneeonstmctedaandiarranefid Ito:fit through the =lapmature. -themathimbw:mal1'.ax1c1- enter the flangedportion ,ofxthemip aeation'r-rand having fan-pater mall-portion on whichthesfiange may *be moved and adjusted, saidholdermamng any-openingtherethrueglmommunicatinglwlth the pipe -:seotion,z;adjustable:fastening. means :carried' by said :backingmlatw and {engagedbygsaidviholder f or mutually zdrawing the molder and gasket: againstopposite sidesjof rzthebathtub aperturedl wall; said'zfaee plate"beingaimperforatewandzizemovably carriedbythelhnlderziorfobsouring:saicl fasteningsiand prewenting watendrainingthrough said face plate, and circumferentially-spacedl means-0nthe,holderior-eontactingtherfaee plate to: maintain both-1theholders-and one plate in ,REFERENCES 'CITED "The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED sums PATENTS.

Number Name Date 812,543 Buchanan Feb. 13, 519116 962;537'7 Mueller41111192851910 l;068;039.: v Clarkv Ju1y'22,'11913 :1,60'7,521Frankenberger. Nov. 16, 1926 1870;089 Bloch Aug. 2,'"1932 11 901118 PopeMar. 14, 1933 1,941,714 Basman Jan. 2,1934 23144253 Morris June 16, 19362,084,487 Frankenberger -June 22, 1937 12,122,620 Nystrom July.5, 19382,226,350 Sloan 'et a1 Dem- 24, 1940 12226502 I "Pla'tt Dec.i24, I940

